I've asked and looked around and there were many different types of tailoring places offering bespoke suit services across a wide range of prices. In the end, I came across this shop that people were highly recommending online.
Dickson's Menswear
The whole tailoring process would involve a few meetings. The first getting the material, style, type of suit and general measurements down before making any necessary alterations in the subsequent meetings when your suit is made.
The First Meet (20/5/15)
This was actually a very humble shop located on the first floor in Bras Basah complex.
First impressions were that making suits in this area could never compare to those fancy swanky shops in down town areas with those bald semi-gay acting pinoy 'designers' measuring you up.
However, this was really untrue after getting to meet the owner, Mr Wong who was the only person manning the small shop.
Mr Wong in his humble shop
This shop works by an appointment only basis. Meaning you have to make an appointment with him before he will attend to you as the business here is apparently quite good.
When I arrived, Mr Wong, whom I felt was a really friendly old uncle greeted me kindly and talked to me about my expectations in the suit I wanted.
You could tell that this uncle was really experienced and very educational as well. We chatted up and he actually introduced me into the history of his time making suits for people and how the trends have changed from the past till now. He even had some kind of old tradition looking 'association of master tailors' certificate in a old frame he chucked on top of a pile of suits lol.
He showed me the many different kinds of materials available and their respective prices. He also made certain recommendations for me based on how often I would be wearing it, where I would be wearing it, the color's versatility and it's general lifespan.
He then took my measurements. He actually complemented that my body structure was pretty solid LOL. THIS MADE ME SO DAMN HAPPY YOU HAVE NO IDEA HAHAHAHA.
Then I asked him how much curvature and shape can I squeeze out of the suit so that it looks nicer and his response was quite funny lol. He says 'a lot of young one like you ah, like everything tight tight, but when you do this, you ruin the integrity of the suit and it looks damn punkish. When you wear a suit, you have to look professional'
He also explained to me the aspects of a suit from the pockets, the right lengths, to the back tails and how you should wear them on different occasions. Apparently, in a super formal occation, you have to pull your suit pockets out instead of tucking them in; a mistake a lot of Singaporeans make he says who just simply follow trends.
The whole process of the introduction was really good. No wonder he got so many good review from loads of satisfied customers online.
Price wise, I feel that it is reasonable. I got a package deal from him which was a total of $550 for the following:
(All Tailored)
1x Suit Jacket
1x Pants
1x White Shirt
1x Vest
For the suit jacket, vest and pants, I opted for the wool cashmere blend material which costs $450. His package allowed me to include a Vest (u.p. $150 for the material I chose) and a shirt for just an extra $100. Reason I chose to opt for the exra vest and tailored shirt was so that the whole set would become a lot more versatile and I can wear loads of different combinations. (No suit + vest + shirt, no vest + suit + shirt, suit + vest + shirt, etc)
Yeah yeah, I know you can get them for cheaper at some other place, but it's the whole experience and service that sold it for me.
2nd Meet - Fitting (4/6/15)
Met Mr Wong again to try on my readied suit, shirt and pants. There were still a couple of minor adjustments needed to be made regarding the length of my pants & the allowance on my left wrist area as my watch was pretty bulky.
Took measurements for my vest today from some prototypes. The actual one + all the minor adjustment to the other pieces should be ready for me next week.
Still, the experience after changing into my pants and shirt was simply shiok as hell. I looked really good imo. On top of that, when he told me to relax my arms out backwards and placed the suit on me, I felt so boss-like.
After, he explained to me that every time when one puts on a suit, you need to tug the lapels before you button the 1st button. When I was doing this motion, I felt so fuckin' alpha, I couldn't help it but chuckled a little to myself and he did too. :P
He also mentioned to me that if you want to unbutton your suit button, don't throw the suit flaps out after, which is what I did initially (and apparently a lot of people are guilty of as well); just leave it as it is after unbuttoning and continue doing whatever you were. Interesting that there are actually so many small things to note about donning a suit.
He then continued to enlighten me on how I should never take my suit out and hang them on chairs at formal events, never knew that tbh and it's something that I'd totally see myself doing actually. =/
Thus far, I am really quite satisfied. I felt that my requests were all addressed, be it in explanations on why some things cannot be done without spoiling the image, or to make minor adjustments to areas based on his recommendations and my liking. More importantly, I learned so much about how to behave in a a suit from this guy.
3rd Meet - Final Fitting (17/6/15)
Took measurements for my vest today from some prototypes. The actual one + all the minor adjustment to the other pieces should be ready for me next week.
Still, the experience after changing into my pants and shirt was simply shiok as hell. I looked really good imo. On top of that, when he told me to relax my arms out backwards and placed the suit on me, I felt so boss-like.
After, he explained to me that every time when one puts on a suit, you need to tug the lapels before you button the 1st button. When I was doing this motion, I felt so fuckin' alpha, I couldn't help it but chuckled a little to myself and he did too. :P
He also mentioned to me that if you want to unbutton your suit button, don't throw the suit flaps out after, which is what I did initially (and apparently a lot of people are guilty of as well); just leave it as it is after unbuttoning and continue doing whatever you were. Interesting that there are actually so many small things to note about donning a suit.
He then continued to enlighten me on how I should never take my suit out and hang them on chairs at formal events, never knew that tbh and it's something that I'd totally see myself doing actually. =/
Thus far, I am really quite satisfied. I felt that my requests were all addressed, be it in explanations on why some things cannot be done without spoiling the image, or to make minor adjustments to areas based on his recommendations and my liking. More importantly, I learned so much about how to behave in a a suit from this guy.
3rd Meet - Final Fitting (17/6/15)
The final fitting was pretty quick. When I arrived, there were a couple of people there and I simply waited for my turn.
After trying on everything, it all seemed ok. Settled the payment promptly with him and we both wished each other well before I left.
The final pieces felt really high quality despite my initial impressions of the humble looking shop and I am overall very satisfied with the service he provided and the products that I've gotten!
For those who are interested, here is his name card:
I'm finally an owner of my very own bespoke suit. Feels great!
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